She listened, trying to piece together the broken, incomplete sentences into a sensible whole. It was probably something to do with what Aspel had told her that night at the inn. No details, but then, she hadn't expected them; she supposed she could fill in the blanks well enough to get a general idea. And Aspel was clearly pushing through whatever had caused the discomfort, else why would she have made the offer for company this evening when she was already tired, worn, and stressed? Ari sat quietly, watching her own plate and fork, giving Aspel the occasional brief glance from under her lashes but mostly attempting to leave the other woman to her own devices, though after a moment, she reached out, placed a hand gently on Aspel's knee, hoping it would not spook her. "Take your time," she suggested. "We're in no hurry."
She took her own advice, withdrawing her hand and slowing her pace; now that her stomach was not quite so empty, she could enjoy the meal more, and while she had spoken truthfully about her lack of fondness for quiet, there were times - such as tonight - when it was indeed welcome. Still, she did not want the silence to grow uncomfortable, either. "Shall I attempt to distract you?" she offered after a moment. "Or would you prefer I keep my chatter to myself awhile?" She smiled and added, "No offense will be taken at the latter, I assure you."